The Cross Cultural Centre Ascona (Centro Incontri Umani Ascona) is a recognized Swiss Foundation. It was set up by Dr. Angela Hobart, London, in the memory of her parents, Dr. Edmund and Margiana Stinnes - von Gaevernitz. The aim of the Centre is to encourage understanding, respect, compassion and peace internationally, which is especially important in our contemporary era, beset by natural disasters and widespread human conflict. The Centre addresses issues of cross cultural concern in the domains of society, politics, philosophy, art, religion and medicine. By encouraging exchange among scholars, students, artists and laypeople of different countries and disciplines, the Centre seeks to honour the capacity of humans to revitalize consciousness and remake their lived realities.